In which the Dan tackle cultural appropriation, Oli unveils a fast-moving, MIDI-powered new segment and Andrew receives the greatest gift of all: a bit of time off. *Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and lots of love to those who don't.*

Join your trusty exegetes as they avoid talking about Steely Dan's saddest song (as voted in Metal Leg Fanzine's infamous 'Ladies of Dan' poll). Among the distractions are cat-borne diseases, parenthetical song titles and a shocking revelation about Andrew's true heritage.

In this special episode, Oli and Andrew pay tribute to the myth, the legend, the cape: David Crosby.

Tracks discussed: The Byrds – Triad / CSNY – Almost Cut My Hair / David Crosby – Laughing / David Crosby in Hook / David Crosby – Yvette in English / Joni Mitchell – Yvette in English / David Crosby – Your Own Ride / David Crosby – Rodriguez for a Night.

Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2HTSayRNkduFvBx9JIpApe?si=dc891a043ec943fc

"God bless your massive soul."

It's the season finale, and the guys are performing circus tricks for Exegesis celebrity Brian Rosten. Meanwhile, Andrew's own simian soul is rudely extricated.

"I had sex with you and now I think that you're a monkey."

The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand Steely Dan – Monkey in Your Soul (Walter Becker vocal version) Freedy Johnston – Monkey in Your Soul

Brian Rosten's Twitter Pete vs The City of Chicago (Brian's book) The Maul (Brian's mag)

It's Christmas every day* at Exegesis HQ. As the fire roars and the chestnuts crackle, Andrew and Oli discuss golden pigs, shitting logs and Charlie Freak.

* It's not Christmas every day. It's not even Christmas today. The song has sleigh bells, basically.

"You've got to let the love in down the chimney of your heart."

The Mark Masters Ensemble – Charlie Freak Fauré Quartet – Charlie Freak Tuesday Island – Charlie Freak

Hello schism my old friend.

"Just shoot a harpoon in my face."

Them Fargo Brothers – With a Gun

Nina Cristante – Romance

Paint Your Wagon trailer

The Beatles – Rocky Raccoon

The Beatles – I'm a Loser

The Beatles – Run For Your Life

The Beatles – I'll Cry Instead

Joni Mitchell – Raised on Robbery

The boys make a heartfelt apology and open up about Andrew's charity work. Also, pretzels. 

"Everything that has got better is being slowly reversed by these pony fuckers and I just want them all to die all at once."

Joy Wright – Pretzel Logic (and the cover of her album) The Catman Doodz – Pretzel Logic The Incomparable Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band – Pretzel Logic The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back The Jackson 5 – ABC 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's Messiah Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – Wooden Ships Fagen's thoughts on Whiplash Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin'

It's the shortest song in the Dan catalogue, but will it be given short shrift by our exegetes?

"Fagen is fucking with us."

Chicago – If You Leave Me Now Philip Frobos – Through With Buzz Afroman – Because I Got High The Beatles – Happiness is a Warm Gun The Beatles – Sexy Sadie The Beatles – I Am the Walrus The Beatles – Glass Onion The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (excerpts)

The lads mix up their Jims and avoid talking about Parker's Band.

[Slightly shonky sound in this one. Apologies.]

"I was just imagining Denny Dias as part of a human centipede."

Becker & Fagen – Parker's Band (demo)

Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse

Radiohead – The National Anthem

John Coltrane – Blue Train

Radiohead – You and Whose Army?

Andrew and Oli indulge in some forced fun before enjoying a cosy conversation about an old jazz standard.

"A reanimated Harryhausen jazz skeleton."

Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1927 version) The Temperance Seven – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Humphrey Littleton – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Mercer Ellington and the Duke Ellington Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Emerson Lake and Palmer – Fanfare for the Common Man Duke Ellington and his Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1957 version)

The "third exegete", Ben "Pen" Jones returns to discuss the sorta-Dylan-pastiche Barrytown. This episode also includes the world's best Bob impression and more Dan-inspired fiction by Brian Rosten.

Warning: politics.

"A very teacherly pigeon."

Ben Folds Five - Barrytown

The Beatles - Tell Me What You See

Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street

Bob Dylan - Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again

Randy Newman - Short People

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Tom Peel's Bandcamp

Ben "Pen" Jones's website

The boys sink into the giant jazz-pop feather that is Any Major Dude Will Tell You. Will they overcome their single greatest challenge yet – agreement?

"Gary Katz is Mork."

Tayyab Amin's piece about discovering Steely Dan

Wilco - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Schlong - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

The Acoustic Guitar Troubadors - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Die Sterne - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Nancy Wilson - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Randy Newman - Louisiana 1927 (the song Andrew said had a similar melody to AMDWTY)

Carole King - I feel the Earth Move

Nickelodeon's Alex Mack dissolving into mercury

Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone

Bill Grundy talking to the Sex Pistols

Oli and Andrew agree about something. How will they cope?

[Donald Fagen - Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano: https://youtu.be/rR6OsrzbHHY]

In the spirit of cultural exchange, our Danizens are joined by retro gaming YouTuber RoseTintedSpectrum to discuss the "gentrified funk" of Night By Night.

This episode also includes some erotic Steely Dan fanfic and possibly the first ever Dan-themed text adventure.

"I need some funk by five o'clock, Andrew Souter."

Yasuko Agawa - Night By Night

Ana Popović - Night by Night

Tous les Oiseaux d'Europe - Night by Night (Spotify link)

Benny Hill - Ernie (the Fastest Milkman in the West

Bob Dylan - Tangled Up in Blue (Live 1984)

A RoseTintedSpectrum video about Dizzy, who is a computer egg

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RoseTintedSpectrum's YouTube channel: @RoseTintedSpectrum

RoseTintedSpectrum's Twitter: @SpectrumTinted

Our exegetes are back, and they're ready to tackle the big questions. Namely, "did Rikki lose that number?", "who is Rikki anyway?" and "to what lows would Oli stoop for Podcast recognition?"

"7408912."

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – My Old School

Kenji Omura – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Botticelli and his Orchestra – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Tom Robinson – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Hank Marvin – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Far Corporation – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Chuck Loeb – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

The Best – Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Horace Silver – Song For My Father

Orchestra Baobab, for the sake of comparison

Neil Young – Roll Another Number For the Road

'Tis the night before Christmas, and our exegetes are gathering round the Bo Tree to swap gifts and make merry. (Or as merry as one can be when discussing a song about nuclear apocalypse.)

This is our first episode recorded IN PERSON (hooray!) and is even more NSFW than usual, as you might expect when you put two Brits in a kitchen with copious booze. Give this one a miss if you tend to wince at the Anglo-Saxon "C" word.

"Donald, remove the last vestiges of emotion from your voice."

Joe Jackson - King of the World Hench - King of the World Etch - King of the World Pegleg - Dance of the King of the World of Maya Panic in Year Zero trailer Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink The Beach Boys - God Only Knows Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden Ships

Voulez voulez voulez-vous un autre épisode de Countdown to Exegesis? Drift along, dear listener, to the plaintive strains of Pearl of the Quarter, and learn about Andrew's strange encounter in a Chinese takeaway. Ooh la la.

"Fuck off Don; let's get Michael McDonald."

Nearly Dan's website

Mark Winkler's story about auditioning for Steely Dan

The Band - In a Station

Spoiler-free show and tell link

Ben "Pen" Jones once again joins our Danizens to talk horns and sex maths. DUM-DUM-DUM-DIDDLE-DUM-BAH-DAH-DUM.

"Skunk was next to arrive, wearing some kind of viking helmet."

Ben "Pen" Jones on Instagram

Steely Dan performs "My Old School" on TV

Moonpie - My Old School

Boogie by Boogie (album cover)

Steely Dan - What a Shame About Me

The boys are joined by The Waitresses and Tin Huey guitarist Chris Butler for a lesson in American geo-cultural relations.

Apologies for the audio quality on this one. Technical issues meant we had to resort to a safety copy.

"A sort of dirty sprinter."

Chris Butler's Bandcamp

Mark Masters Ensemble - Show Biz Kids

Hannah Boel - Showbizz People

Rickie Lee Jones - Show Biz Kids

Super Furry Animals - The Man Don’t Give a Fuck

The Band - King Harvest (“…don’t judge me by my shoes”)

An episode of strange and macabre things, including a visit to a spooky horror circus and more unsettling correspondence from the Rasiermesserjunge. Some discussion of Steely Dan's "Your Gold Teeth" is also attempted.

"Hats off, Fagen"

Your Gold Teeth, the band

Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day And John Coltrane

Cathy Berberian - Stripsody

Andrew and Oli sweep the playroom and swallow up all they find. In this episode, we learn the identity of Lonnie, why he was the kingpin, and why Andrew doesn't care.

Also revealed: Andrew's dad's opinion of Countdown to Exegesis.

"Like an angry haiku."

Hit-Boy feat. John Legend - WyW

Joni Mitchell - Edith and the Kingpin

Joni Mitchell - In France They Kiss on Main Street

Ted Chippington, for the sake of comparison

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - Ohio

Neil Young - Revolution Blues

The Band - King Harvest

Tom Waits - Hoist That Rag

Elvis Costello - American Gangster Time

Donald's interview with Ennio Morricone

Is this… jazz? Bouyed by the sound of vibes and acoustic bass, our exegetes attempt to catch the Razor Boy and make him explain himself. Meanwhile, Andrew receives a suspicious package…

"We've dissected the frog and the frog is dead."

Billy Goodrum - Razor Boy

The Left Banke - Pretty Ballerina

It's the start of a new series, and Oli is excited. Andrew, however, is not.

In this episode, our fact-finding inebriates discover the answers to the following: "is Countdown to Ecstacy Steely Dan's punk album?", "how is Bodhisattva like kedgeree?", and "what does it take to bring Andrew out of a bad mood?".

"There's a single almond on my staircase."

Brian Setzer Orchestra - Bodhisattva

Toto - Bodhisattva

The Late Era episode about Honkin' On Bobo

Denny's story about the synth

Our hosts throw another classic onto the exegetical pyre. Tune in to hear 24-carat Danchat, teenage poetry and Andrew's run-in with a mysterious podiatrist.

A bumper episode to froth all over Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, and try to navigate its labyrinthine lyrics.

Plus, we wrap up on album one, review our slams and scams, and - most importantly - answer the burning question: "has Can't Buy a Thrill turned Andrew into a Steely Dan fan?"

"Extremely measured fun."

Brooklyn Charmers - Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

Prefab Sprout - Cue Fanfare

The Danboiz are joined by caricaturist and Pretzel Logic aficionado Ben "Pen" Jones to discuss Change of the Guard. They're ready to sandwich, but is there any meat in this filler?

Also discussed: David Palmer, salmon farmer.

"Donald Fagen is my fursona."

Passport - Change of the Guard

Stanley Dee - Change of the Guard

It's Brooklyn time. The boys sit down for some serious analysis, interrupted only by a scene from Andrew's never-to-be-completed C.S.N.Y. biopic.

Also featured: the first appearance of The Steely Dan Dictionary; the most pathetic songfacts of the series; Bob Dylan.

"Get me the number of David Palmer."

Donald Fagen & Walter Becker - Brooklyn (demo)

Fleetwood Mac - Sara

Bob Dylan - Queen Jane Approximately

Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero

A.K.A. 'that episode about Jeff "Skunk" Baxter'.

"A Jools singularity."

O - Made Man

Skero - Fußboi

Five Finger Death Punch - Fire In the Hole

Van Halen - Fire In the Hole

Jools Holland interviewing John Lurie

Side two kicks off with bona fide hit single and dad rock radio staple Reelin' In the Years. Join our hosts in excitable mood as they get to grips with its slippery charms.

Also: Oli struggles to identify the solo; Andrew recoils at his enjoyment of The Dan so far; both ruin any chance of a lucrative sponshorship deal.

"The finish is dry and refreshing."

Spirit Adrift, High On Fire and Mutoid Man - Reelin' In the Years

Apologetix - Rollin' In the Yeast

Donny and Marie Osmond - Reelin' In the Years

Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone

Bob Dylan - Ballad of a Thin Man

Side one comes to a close with one of The Dan's breeziest numbers. In celebratory style, our hosts relax into their sun loungers and attempt their most thorough exegesis yet. (Or is it the alcohol talking?)

This one comes with a sincere MATURE WARNING, thanks to Andrew's explanation of his unspeakable canine coitus song.

Ivy - Only a Fool Would Say That

Strolling a little too far into the backstreets of side one, our hosts discover Midnite Cruiser in tight jeans and 'big, brown shoes'. Neither are particularly pleased about it.

Also covered: Dan memes, Madonna's favourite ale, soft rock séances.

"This is Vantabeige."

This week, our hosts investigate 'Kings', Can't Buy a Thrill's self-described "vacuous historical romance."

Lots of honest-to-goodness analysis here, with a short detour into crisis management role play featuring two of Wolverhampton's favourite sons.

"My endive salad is on fire."

The Steely Damned - Kings

Oli and Andrew turn their critical, bloodshot eyes to track two on Can't Buy a Thrill, the single-that-should-have-been 'Dirty Work'

We also hear about the origins of 'Yacht Rock', learn of a few embarassing gig stories, and witness Andrew's chess-based apotheosis.

"Ooh, I sound like a Victorian nurse."

Ian Matthews - Dirty Work

Pointer Sisters - Dirty Work

Andrew and Oli dive right in with album one, track one - the Latin-flavoured, sitar-seasoned barnstormer 'Do It Again'.

Lots of meta-Danchat to kick us off, including an extended monologue on the album itself and a reduction of Becker and Fagen to schoolyard caricatures. Also our most inebriated episode, by some measure.

"I think you're gonna be on board the choo-choo Dan Train."

Club House - Do It Again Medley With Billie Jean

Our hosts are joined by SPECIAL GUESTS Ann and Rachel from STEELY ANN: the greatest female-fronted Steely Dan tribute band in the history of South Central Minnesota. United in scepticism and tenacity, they attempt to navigate one of the Dan's stinkiest lyrical swamps. [Audio is a little ropey in this one. Blame Oli.]

Oli is ready to discuss one of his favourite things. Andrew is not. But their commitment to the podcast knows no bounds and they manage to eke out 53 minutes of edutational chat.

An attempt is made to discuss Katy Lied's groovy trou normand, Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More. Andrew, however, is more interested in mid-price, off-the-shelf cocktails.

Could it be true – a real, bona fide Steely Dan love song? In this episode, your hosts smack a sexy piñata until it spits out William Blake, a long-lost billet-doux and something Donald Fagen has 'found'.

Our hosts brave the harsh morning light to discuss Bad Sneakers, drink pina coladas and swap footwear. Friend of the Show Ben Jones joins to share his thoughts and a song. Recorded live in Bad Sniekers, Lower Franconia.

What do you mean it's been eight months? For their Earth-shattering comeback episode, the Danlads carry on as if nothing ever happened. Join them as they dive ears-first into a world of faulty dbx systems and financial chicanery.

Andrew Souter, cave expert, is joined by Oli Pyper, lumbering cretin. The question: just how likely is it that a child-sized Donald Fagen discovered a noted Spanish speleoplex? Stay tuned to the end for a shocking Countdown to Exegesis first.

Following an extended period of hibernation, our hosts emerge refreshed and ready to strut. Will The Royal Scam's disco-dipped opening track sate their legs?

[Addendum a: owing to life and other problems, we will be scrapping the weekly format and releasing this season's episodes as and when they're ready; please ignore us if we say, 'See you next week. Addendum b: find the wonderfully noisy 'relaxing piano cover' here: https://youtu.be/cbfmcOu45DQ)

Andrew 'Cold' Souter and Oli 'Daring' Pyper again welcome Steely Ann to the pod bothy. The subject? A funky bit of kleptopop that proved instrumental in defining the Steely Ann sound and helping them seize their crown as south-central Minnesota's premier Steely Dan tribute band.

Lured from his Moog Drome, pod-adjacent legend The Drum Doctor finally joins Andrew and Oli to discuss a rhythm-heavy number that should be right up his alley. His verdict? 'I didn't even realise it was Purdie on the drums.'

Strap in, folks. The NavCore's set for Mizar 5 and it's gonna be a long journey. Thankfully, First Mate Souter and Spacebilge Operative Pyper are on board. Settle in next to the Infinite Negativity Drive and let them regale you with tales of sci-fi scepticism, sandwich fillings and mid-rate Steely Dan tunes.

Agents of the law! Luckless pedestrians! Podcast devotees! We know you’re out there. Join Andrew, Oli and friend of the show Ben Jones as we pick apart “Don’t Take Me Alive”, track three from The Royal Scam. Featuring bad American accents, a misguided attempt at accessibility and five minutes of improvised musical madness.

In this bumper episode, legal expert Matt Hasler joins Oli and Andrew to discuss Steely Dan's biggest UK hit. Is it a harmless cod-reggae trifle? Or has Papa gone too far this time?

It's the season finale. Andrew appears to have stomached an entire Steely Dan album without vomiting a rainbow of jazz-tinged despair. Will he fall at the final hurdle?

In which your hosts, Oli Pyper and Andrew Souter, use Nathan Fielder's penis as a tool to deconstruct the Steely Dan song 'Everything You Did'.